Puzzle missing a perfect piece

The Bruins will try to eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins and clinch a spot in their second Stanley Cup final in the last three years without Gregory Campbell in Game 4 tonight at TD Garden.

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Posted Jun. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 7, 2013 at 5:56 AM

Posted Jun. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 7, 2013 at 5:56 AM

TRIAL RUNS

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli acquired five players in five seasons until he finally settled on one for his energy-line center role:2006-07: Mark Mowers2007-08: Glen Metropolit2008-09: Step...

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TRIAL RUNS

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli acquired five players in five seasons until he finally settled on one for his energy-line center role:

2006-07: Mark Mowers

2007-08: Glen Metropolit

2008-09: Stephane Yelle

2009-10: Steve Begin

2010-: Gregory Campbell

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It took Boston Bruins general Peter Chiarelli fives tries in five years to get an energy-line center he knew was the right one for his hockey team.

But after Gregory Campbell broke his right fibula blocking an Evgeni Malkin shot while killing a penalty during the second period of Wednesday night's playoff game at TD Garden, Chiarelli is back to square one.

The trade deadline has long past, the free agent market doesn't open until July 5, and the player Chiarelli entrusted with this vital role is finished for the season.

No choice of his own, the Bruins will try to eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins and clinch a spot in their second Stanley Cup final in the last three years without Campbell in Game 4 tonight at TD Garden (8:20 p.m., NBCSN, 98.5).

Whatever happens from this point forward, the 2013 playoffs will be remembered as the one where Campbell, broken right leg, limped about on one skate for most of a minute trying just to get in the Penguins' way.

"What he did (Wednesday) surprised a lot of people, but it didn't surprise us because that's just who he is, stay in there and make sure he finishes his shift," said Bruins coach Claude Julien. "As a coach you probably wish he would have stayed down, but that's not his job."

There is obviously something special about role players on hockey teams that are in the hunt for a championship.

On one hand, they don't play a lot. On the other, what they contribute is vital if not absolutely essential to the overall game plan.

It could be an enforcer — Chiarelli signed free agent Shawn Thornton away from the 2007 Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks and in six years has never looked back.

It could be the perfect defense partner to complement captain Zdeno Chara. Chiarelli acquired and made a star out of Dennis Wideman, then decided on Aaron Ward for the role, only to deal the popular Ward and bring in veteran Derek Morris. Within months he did an about-face on Morris and acquired Dennis Seidenberg.

Sometimes it takes time.

As the Bruins got closer and closer to the Stanley Cup they won in 2011, energy-line center was one of those quirky positions, and from year to year Chiarelli found himself unable to settle.

He went through current NESN analyst Mark Mowers, overachiever Glen Metropolit, the likable but undersized center whose role increased when Patrice Bergeron's 2007-08 season was wiped out by a career-threatening concussion.

The Bruins made the playoffs in 2008, but they weren't finished in their search for the right player to anchor an energy line, kill penalties, take a key face-off, move up to center other lines when needed and be a physical force as well.

It's a lot to ask of a player who doesn't average more than 11 minutes of ice time.

In 2008, Chiarelli tabbed former Colorado Avalanche center Stephane Yelle, a veteran face-off artist with a deft touch but not a lot of hard miles left in his body. So, in 2009, he opted for former Montreal Canadiens agitator Steve Begin, but Begin's play was underwhelming.

It will be three years ago on Monday that Chiarelli swung his most-important trade as Bruins GM, sending Wideman and first- and third-round draft picks to the Florida Panthers for forward Nathan Horton and a lesser-known plugger named Gregory Campbell.

Campbell is the son of Colin Campbell, the NHL's director of hockey operations who was a hard-nosed defenseman in his playing days before moving into coaching, management and, finally, executive roles with the NHL.

You never know what to expect from a kid who could have short-cutted his way through life with such a powerful family connection, but Campbell has been the ultimate energy-line center for the Bruins these past three years.

A junk-yard dog in the game and a real rink rat.

"I mean, I'm not sure if I've ever played with anyone that spends that much time at the rink," said Thornton. "He loves it. He grew up with it, and he does love it. So I'm sure he's a little down in the dumps, but he'll be positive when he's around the guys and help out anyway he can off the ice I'm sure. He's still a big part of this team, whether he's on skates or not."

An hour before Game 3, Campbell was off by himself in the north side of TD Garden's event level, during his agility drills and making himself ready to feel pain for the Boston Bruins.

It's impossible to imagine that likely replacement Kaspars Daugavins can live up to Campbell's pace. But this is probably his chance, and if he can't play that heavy game Julien wants, then the coach said he has plenty of options.

A more intriguing one would be using the hard-luck Chris Kelly to center the energy line and introducing Carl Soderberg or even talented prospect Ryan Spooner to the mix and see if a revised third line can get hard-trying wingers Rich Peverley and Tyler Seguin on the scoreboard.

One thing is for sure, the 18 skaters who suit up tonight can expect more pain for their gain without Campbell taking their lumps.

Mick Colageo covers hockey for The Standard-Times. Contact him at mcolageo@s-t.com and visit Rink Rap at blogs.southcoasttoday.com/bruins